Born in Cordenous, Italy on New Year's Eve, 1947 left winger Nelson Debenedet was in North America when he began laying the groundwork for his NHL career. Debenedet spent three years with the Michigan State Spartans, then turned pro with the Fort Wayne Comets and returned to school and played a year with the University of Toronto before signing an NHL contract in 1971. Debendet signed with the Detroit Red Wings and spent the next two seasons playing minor pro but made his NHL debut during the 1973-74 season.

Debenedet played 15 games with the Wings and scored four goals and five points. He spent the rest of that campaign in the American Hockey League. On May 27th 1974 Debenedet was traded by the Red Wings to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With the Penguins Debenedet hit career highs in all categories scoring six goals and nine points in 31 games. It was the final season Debenedet played at the National Hockey League level.

After spending the 1975-76 toiling for the Penguins farm club in Hershey Debenedet retired from hockey.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1966-67

Michigan State Spartans

WCHA

27

0

7

7

14

1967-68

Michigan State Spartans

WCHA

29

4

3

7

25

1968-69

Michigan State Spartans

WCHA

28

10

7

17

40

1969-70

University of Toronto

OUAA

1969-70

Fort Wayne Komets

IHL

8

0

3

3

6

1970-71

University of Toronto

OUAA

15

3

9

12

29

11

2

10

12

0

1971-72

Fort Worth Wings

CHL

14

2

4

6

15

1971-72

Tidewater Red Wings

AHL

22

4

3

7

12

1971-72

Port Huron Wings

IHL

30

7

5

12

19

1972-73

Virginia Wings

AHL

76

29

27

56

64

13

2

5

7

6

1973-74

Detroit Red Wings

NHL

15

4

1

5

2

+1

1973-74

Virginia Wings

AHL

39

8

15

23

40

1974-75

Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL

31

6

3

9

11

-3

1974-75

Hershey Bears

AHL

25

6

6

12

13

12

2

4

6

2

1975-76

Hershey Bears

AHL

69

14

19

33

12

9

4

5

9

6

NHL Totals

46

10

4

14

13

Signed as a free agent by Detroit, September, 1971. Traded to Pittsburgh by Detroit for Hank Nowak and Pittsburgh's 3rd round choice (Dan Mandryk) in 1974 Amateur Draft, May 27, 1974.